WinZip Self-Extractor can create two kinds of self-extracting Zip files:
Standard Self-Extracting Zip Files
Standard self-extracting Zip files are easy to build and are ideal for sharing documents, graphics, and other files with co-workers, family members, and/or associates. They can be used for software installation, but the files in the "unzip to" folder will not be removed when the installation completes. These self-extractors can display a greeting message or an informational message when they are run. When creating a standard self-extractor, you can specify the default Unzip To folder, choose to have the Overwrite files without prompting box checked by default, and/or specify a command to run after files have been unzipped.
Self-Extracting Zip Files for Software Installation
Self-extracting Zip files for Software Installation take some more preparation, but they afterward will provide a more professional-looking installation. You can customize what text and title will display in the self-extracting Zip file's dialog box, include an additional message, and/or add your own information to display if the receiver clicks the About button. When someone runs it, the self-extracting Zip file will use the TEMP or TMP environment variable to create a temporary folder, unzip the files into the folder, run the setup program, wait for it to complete, then delete the temporary folder created in the first step.
Standard vs. Software Installation Self-Extractors
|
Features |
Standard |
Software Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Receiver can change the "Unzip To" folder | Yes | No; a temporary folder is created and later deleted |
| Receiver can disable the specified command to run before clicking Unzip | Yes | No; the specified command is always run after the unzip operation completes |
| Receiver can control whether files are overwritten automatically | Yes | Not applicable; files are unzipped into a newly created temporary folder |
| Optional greeting message is displayed when running the self-extracting Zip file | Yes | Yes |
| German and English versions are available | Yes | Yes |
| Unzipped files are automatically deleted when command completes | No | Yes |
| A custom icon can be used for the self-extractor | Yes | Yes |
| Custom dialog text can be displayed | No | Yes |
To create a Standard self-extractor, select the Standard self-extracting Zip file radio button in the second Wizard panel. When creating a self-extractor using a command line, a Standard self-extractor will be created unless you include the -setup switch.
To create a software installation self-extractor, select the Self-extracting Zip file for Software Installation radio button in the second Wizard panel. If you are creating your self-extractor from a command line you must include the -setup switch.
Note: WinZip Self-Extractor installs a help file named Online Manual into the WinZip Self-Extractor program group, which is reached from the Start menu. Command line information can be found in the Operation topic of this help file.
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